Why You Should Buy Used Snowboarding Equipment.
If you like carving up the slopes but don’t want to pay top dollar for brand-new gear, it’s worth your while to shop for used snowboarding equipment. Whether you’re a beginner picking up your first setup or a veteran looking for a new ride, there are many significant benefits to be gained by buying used snowboarding supplies.
From reducing your purchase costs to recycling your snowboarding gear at the end of its life, investing in used snowboarding equipment can help you get more for your money. Here, we break down why used snowboarding equipment can be an excellent option for budget-minded enthusiasts.
Why Buying Used Snowboarding Equipment Makes Sense
When shopping for snowboards and other winter gear, there are four main areas where buying used can be beneficial: Cost, quality, performance, and sustainability.
Save Money On Cost
One of the most obvious ways you can save money by buying used snowboarding gear is by reducing your purchase cost. Comparing new and used prices on the same model of board or boots can often yield up to 50% savings when you buy secondhand. If you’re trying to put together a complete setup and need to buy multiple pieces of equipment, the savings can add up fast.
High Quality Gear
Snowboarding technology continues to emerge at an ever-quickening pace, but those design improvements don’t always translate into a significantly better on-snow experience. In fact, older used boards and boots can still offer great performance, especially if you’re a relatively new rider who hasn’t run through a few different setups yet.
This means that you can invest in a quality setup – such as Burton, Ride, Nitro, K2, and LibTech – at a significantly lower price point than buying brand-new gear.
Perform Like New
Not only can used gear offer top-tier performance, but it can do so for a much longer period of time than most people think. Even if you buy a used snowboard or pair of boots that has been ridden hard over the years, they are likely to serve you well while they last. The biggest factor in determining how long your gear will perform is how well it is cared for.
Before you buy used snowboarding supplies, it is always important to inspect them carefully. Most reputable dealers and private sellers provide images of the gear on their websites and in person when you arrange to meet them in person.
Be Sustainable
Purchasing used gear also reduces the potential for gear waste by keeping gear for its entire life. This means less equipment ultimately ending up in a landfill. The used snowboarding market has taken off in recent years and made it easier than ever to sell your old gear instead of just throwing it away.
If you buy used gear, you may want to consider reselling it after you no longer need it, rather than throwing it away. Re-selling older gear at discounted rates is a great way to reduce waste and help out more budget-minded riders.
Where To Shop For Used Snowboarding Supplies
With more people looking for secondhand snowboarding deals, the market for used items is bigger than ever. And while you can always search classified ads and keep an eye out at thrift stores, there are plenty of excellent online options that cover a wide range of geographical locations.
Private eBay or Craigslist sellers are always worth searching, but there are several notable used snowboarding equipment websites worth checking out as well. eBay’s Snowboard Buy and Sell page is one of the biggest and most respected places to buy or sell gear, as it offers a range of gear from all the major brands plus a very active forum community. Another great option is the Gear Swap page at Backcountry.com, which offers a wide selection of discounted gear from their own stock plus specialty shops located all around the world.
The decision to buy used snowboarding equipment involves a lot of moving parts. On the one hand, you want to get the best gear for the least money, but on the other, you don’t want to sacrifice quality or performance. With thoughtful research and thorough inspection of used snowboarding supplies, you should be able to find the right setup at a price that fits your budget.
Image Credit: Pexels